Virginia’s largest solar energy system plugged in atop IKEA store

Home furnishings retailer IKEA plugged-in the state’s largest solar energy system atop its Woodbridge-store Monday.

The 63,000-square-foot, solar array consists of a 504-kW system, built with 2,100 panels. IKEA Woodbridge’s program will produce approximately 636,199 kW of clean electricity annually. That’s the equivalent of reducing 439 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 86 cars or powering 55 homes.

“We at IKEA believe in the never-ending job of striving to improve the sustainability of our day-to-day business,” Jackie DeChamps, IKEA Woodbridge store manager, said in a statement. “The IKEA coworkers in Woodbridge are excited to help contribute to this goal with our newly operational solar energy system. We appreciate the support of the Town of Woodbridge, Prince William County, NOVEC and Gehrlicher Solar, our partners in this project.”

The Woodbridge installation represents the 21st completed solar energy project for IKEA in the U.S. Eighteen more locations are underway, making the eventual U.S. solar presence of IKEA nearly 89 percent with a total generation of 38 megawatts.

IKEA contracted Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. for the development, design and installation of the Woodbridge store’s customized solar power system. Gehrlicher Solar America Corp. is part of Gehrlicher AG, one of the world’s 10 largest independent photovoltaic project developers and system integrators.

The company owns and operates each of its solar energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement).